Quick Look

Missing

Samantha Wanshapali Welegedara, No. 1978, New Galle Road, Katukurunda, Moratuwa, a mother of three has gone missing since beginning of this month. Aged 47 years, height 5', hair slightly curled and cropped. She was dressed in skirt and blouse.

Top price for paddy

P. G. Gunatileka, Galewela Central group correspondent

Paddy farmers in Dambulla, Galewela and surrounding areas are happy that they are receiving very good prices for their paddy crops.

Samba and Nadu paddy are now sold at Rs. 30 and 28 per kilo.

Donation of computers

Walapane Somasiri, Nuwara Eliya district group correspondent

Two computers have been donated by “Siriliya Saviya” Fund to Poramadulla and Victoria National Schools recently.

The computers were handed over by the Central Province Governor, Tikiri Kobbekaduwa to the school principal at Diyatillake Central College.

Public lecture

The National Academy of Sciences of Sri Lanka is organizing a public lecture on March 27 at the ‘Wimalasurendra’ auditorium, the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka, No. 120/15, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7 at 4.30 p.m.

The presentation will be made by Dr. Jayantha Dhanapala, former United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs on ‘Disarmament will it have a detrimental effect on the development of nuclear power’.

Wild elephant threat increases

The threat of wild elephants is increasing in the Sigiriya area and its suburbs causing severe damage to properties and has become a big problem to villagers.

Hundreds acres of paddy and other crop cultivations have been destroyed by those animals.

The most affected areas are Thalkote, Polattawa, Mailattewa, Diyakepilla and Kayanwela.

Regarding the existing situation the Wildlife Conservation Department has not taken any successful action to drive away the wild elephants roaming in the villages.

Kelaniya University student drowns:

Undergrad swept away by waves

Raja Waidyasekera, Tissamaharama special correspondent

An undergraduate of the Kelaniya University who stood on a sand dune with a few others was swept away by a strong wave while the others escaped.

The incident occurred on March 15, at Godawaya sea beach in Ambalantota DS area.

Being a resident of Godallawatta Walasmulla he had come to Godawaya to attend a wedding on March 14.

The others who accompanied the victim Lalitha Ruwan aged 22 to the beach had urged the fishermen who were present at the site to rescue him.

But they were reluctant to make an attempt because the waves of the sea at the time were so violent.

Great escape from tusker

M. A. R. Manukulasooriya, Hiriyala group correspondent

A grandfather and his granddaughter had miraculously escaped from the attack of a wild elephant due to the grandfather’s hindsight.

This incident is reported from Palagama village in the Polpitihigama DS division. The fortunate and brave grandfather is R. A. S. Ranasinghe and his granddaughter is R. A. Ishara Dilhani. She is a student of Kumbukwewa Maha Vidyalaya.

R. A. S. Ranasinghe, describing the dreadful experience said: “Every morning I take my granddaughter to the school van on my bicycle. On this day too when I was riding my bicycle along the bund of the tank, I saw something rolling towards us like, huge stone.

At once I stopped the bicycle. Leaving the bicycle there I took my granddaughter and jumped into the canal.